"It was a long day but a little shorter now that we finished on a win. We are still alive. We get to compete against a team we have a lot of respect for. It was do or die for both of us. The team that is mentally tougher moves on. Really proud of my athletes. I have no idea where the offensive production came from. They got control of themselves and did stuff well in first game, too. Hitting is contagious."

"My mentality is I don't want to lose. I went out there and executed. I don't want to lose knowing it is an elimination game. Shaun Chase did a great job behind the plate. I've just been waiting for the opportunity and I got it."

On his curve ball...

"I found it in the first inning. In the bullpen it was here or there. But I have thrown that pitch a thousand times and I trust it. I was having fun and going about my business."

"We had more fight today and shorter swings. The burden of last night and not getting it done then made the hitters collectively feel like we needed to step it up. The key to success was being relaxed and loose."